Photocell pedestrian button

Abstract

A unit for pedestrian control of traffic lights operated by a traffic light controller, comprises a casing adapted to be mounted to a traffic light post, the casing having a bottom face carrying a window, and a photocell mounted in the casing for directing a beam through the window in a downward direction generally parallel to the post to which the casing is mounted. The photocell is responsive to the presence of a pedestrian's hand placed beneath the window in the beam. The photocell is adapted to be operatively connected to the traffic light controller to send a signal thereto when the presence of a pedestrian has been detected.

1. A unit for pedestrian control of traffic lights operated by a traffic light controller, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted to a traffic light post, said casing having a bottom face carrying a window, and a photocell mounted in said casing for directing a beam through said window in a downward direction generally parallel to the post to which the casing is mounted, said photocell being responsive to the presence of a pedestrian's hand placed beneath said window in said beam, and wherein said photocell is adapted to be operatively connected to the traffic light controller to send a signal thereto when the presence of a pedestrian has been detected. 
   
   
     2. A unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said casing comprises a saddle having a stepped front surface including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being recessed relative to the upper portion, and wherein a recess is defined in the upper portion for receiving said photocell. 
   
   
     3. A unit as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said saddle has a back face having a curvature generally corresponding to a curvature of the traffic light post to which the unit is to be mounted. 
   
   
     4. A unit as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the casing further includes a cover adapted to be removably mounted to the saddle for protecting the photocell. 
   
   
     5. A unit as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said window is carried by said cover. 
   
   
     6. A unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a pictogram is incorporated in the casing for indicating the location of a detecting field of the photocell. 
   
   
     7. A unit as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan mounted within the casing, and a downwardly-directed air outlet defined in the casing, the air pushed through the air outlet by the fan preventing light elements from crossing the detection field of the photocell. 
   
   
     8. A unit for pedestrian control of traffic lights operated by a traffic light controller, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted to a traffic light post, said casing having a bottom face, a photocell sensor mounted in said casing for detecting the presence of a pedestrian's hand immediately underneath said bottom face, and wherein said sensor is adapted to be operatively connected to the traffic light controller to send a signal thereto when the presence of a pedestrian has been detected. 
   
   
     9. A unit as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said casing comprises a saddle having a stepped front surface including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being recessed relative to the upper portion, and wherein a recess is defined in the upper portion for receiving said photocell. 
   
   
     10. A unit as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said saddle has a back face having a curvature generally corresponding to a curvature of the traffic light post to which the unit is to be mounted. 
   
   
     11. A unit as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the casing further includes a cover adapted to be removably mounted to the saddle for protecting the photocell. 
   
   
     12. A unit as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said window is carried by said cover. 
   
   
     13. A unit as defined in  claim 8 , wherein a pictogram is incorporated in the casing for indicating the location of a detecting field of the photocell. 
   
   
     14. A unit as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a fan mounted within the casing, and a downwardly-directed air outlet defined in the casing, the air pushed through the air outlet by the fan preventing light elements from crossing the detection field of the photocell.